Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association, Inc.

By Special Invitation from BRARA

BART JAHNKE W9JJ
ARRL LEAD PERSON FOR Logbook of The World (LoTW)

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2025
6:30 PM (SPEAKER AT 7PM)

Henry Seidner WA2ROA has invited GCARA to attend in person or on ZOOM, their monthly meetings.

Here is a link for a new user guide for LoTW  https://www.g4ifb.com/LoTW_New_User_Guide.pdf

BRARA meets at:
WEST BOCA BRANCH LIBRARY
18685 STATE RD 7
BOCA RATON, FL 33498

ZOOM INFO: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86552555294?pwd=Q0FWTFhXT3NMbXhkSzVaRzJNYUlrdz09#success

Meeting ID: 865 5255 5294
Passcode: 123456

Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, started Amateur Radio in his late teens in 1978, becoming a Novice as KA9DLH in January 1979. Taking all the remaining license exam levels at the FCC Field Office in St Paul Minnesota, he upgraded to Tech, Tech Plus, General, Advanced (with call sign change to KB9NM), and to Extra by late 1980. Perusing the Callbooks for unassigned 1×2 calls (didn’t everyone back then?), he later became W9JJ in FCC Vanity Gate 2 in November 1996. W9JJ was the secondary call of local club friend, Bob Baird, W9NN.

Bart grew up on a Dairy Farm in Wausau WI, from a high perch on the hills outside of town. Finding that VHF Weak Signal operating was an exciting challenge and finding that the farm hilltop location afforded extraordinary line of sight, tropo, meteor scatter, aurora and EME opportunities on the horizon, Bart was hooked on VHF/UHF and above DXing. Bart worked many states on VHF on 6, 2, 220 and 432 MHz back then – with 43 states worked on 2 meters in just a couple years from the farm.

My HF’ing was reserved for Field Day, Sweepstakes. But HF and VHF operations continued as guest op visits to the Wisconsin W0AIH/9 & W0AA Farm, as well as the K9IMM and AD9W VHF Multiop Teams.  

In 1985, after graduating from Tech School with an ASEE, Bart saw an ad in QST for the position of Repeater Directory Editor which paved a road to his future at ARRL.  During his early days at ARRL Bart traveled with the W1XX VHF Hill-topping Team (including operating from the roof at 4U1UN) and he has participated in several VHF/UHF Hilltop Contests with W2SZ/1 FN32 Mt Greylock Team  (www.mgef.org), as well as operations from W1AW.

Since these earlier years, building a home station at 3 different locations over time never got me to the station configuration I desired. BUT with the advent of more automations, even remote operations are available to me today.  Consider remote operations for your own station challenges (from HF to low microwaves).

Bart has been with ARRL in several different roles. Primarily:

• 1985-1989 Repeater Directory Editor and Contest/Regulatory Assistant
• 1989-2005 ARRL VEC Manager
• 2016-2019 Contest Program Manager
• 2019-present, Radiosport and Regulatory Information Manager (interim Field Services Manager), then more recently Radiosport and Regulatory Information Manager. My present role also includes extensive lead LoTW support.

Bart has been a presenter at several VHF Conferences, Hamfests and Conventions discussing Contesting, Regulatory Information (Volunteer Monitoring) and Radiosport, and enjoys working the Hamfest Booths to assist ARRL Members (and prospective members) in their enjoyment of Amateur Radio.

Bart W9JJ, and his wife Sabrina (KC1JMW), live near Willimantic, CT

Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.

Happy New Year !!!!  CQ, CQ, CQ, Calling All Hams!!

Our new year 2025 promises to be the best yet! Our new Board is busy at work keeping the club operational and looking for ways to enrich the lives of our fellow hams.

We are currently checking to make sure everyone gets their emails through Mail Chimp so they know what the club is doing and how to get on the Zoom programs if they cannot make the live presentations at Imperial Point Hospital. If you do not receive our weekly emails, kindly contact Melanie Fernandez KJ4VCT @ 954-560-3706 and let her know.

Before I get into the Winter Field Day talk, I would like to inform you that our President Elect David Pomerantz KO4DKN withdrew his bid for Presidency due to other obligations he was made aware of for this year. He sincerely regrets not being able to lead us but will look forward to a time in the future when he possibly can.

I want to encourage everyone who has a desire for leadership to contact me ANYTIME to discuss the many possibilities. We are currently in search of President and Secretary positions. We are an amiable group on the Board and fun to work with.

Winter Field Day is upon us with new rules and times so please pay attention to the bulletins sent by Joe McGee NX4T, this year’s co- sponsor with Rick Eaton K2HDR. NOW is the time to get onboard for training on how to do a Field Day and to volunteer your help with the project. Please contact Joe McGee NX4T for ways to help him as soon as possible. His phone number is 954-782-3543 and he is waiting to hear from you.

The Hospitality Committee needs help as soon as possible for this Field Day and other events the club will provide for its membership. It includes opportunities to help with shopping, serving or storing the Field Day Hospitality paraphernalia i.e. coolers, plastic bins of supplies and other miscellaneous stuff.

Please contact Melanie if you can see clear to help us with one or many tasks.

This January’s meeting will be Zoom only. See announcements on website W4BUG.org for details. The auditorium at Imperial Point was not available this month and rather than change the week we meet, it was thought better to just do ZOOM. I hope to see all there for Gino Morello’s talk on the Veritium HF Clock.

I would like to remind people that many dues expired in December and this month of January. If you have any questions about your membership dues, please contact Melanie. Being proactive in this matter is both helpful and appreciated. Thank you.

I hope that everyone enjoys a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year this year and that we see a change for the better in all events and circumstances in the world. May God Bless Us All.

Melanie Fernandez KJ4VCT

President Pro Temp

Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.

April 5 – 6, 2025
Boca Raton, FL

HELP SUPPORT – Bike MS: Breakaway to the Palm Beaches MS Bike Ride in Palm Beach County

**NEEDED** Amateur Radio Volunteers! COME OUT AND HELP!

Bike MS OF THE PALM BEACHES is one of the largest fundraising cycling series in the world.

April 5 Sat Northbound 95 miles 7am – 5pm.
April 6 Sun Southbound 40 miles 7am – 3pm.
Radio operators will start at different times depending on their rest stop location.

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

Contact Ben: N7BBE@ARRL.NET OR (775) 781-7522

MEALS ARE PROVIDED

Start and Finish Line:
Boca Raton Innovation Campus
5000 T-Rex Ave Unit 160 Boca Raton, FL 33431

When you volunteer, you become part of the MS movement – a community of passionate individuals working together to create a world free of MS.

Bike MS is one of the largest fundraising cycling series in the world. With dedicated riders like you, we are working to end multiple sclerosis forever, one pedal stroke at a time.

Feel the extraordinary support and excitement throughout your journey as we come together to reach our goal—a world free of MS.

Click BELOW to download and print the PDF version NOTE: Meeting minutes are posted online as a draft for review until approved at the following meeting. Corrections can be sent to the Secretary, currently rickiwitte4@gmail.com.

The Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association, in conjunction with ARES/RACES and Ham Helpers, will sponsor a joint Field Day and FREE Flea Market at Quiet Waters Park (Deerfield Beach, FL) the weekend of January 25 & 26, 2025 beginning at 8 AM Saturday and ending at 6 PM Sunday. All are invited to attend and participate.

Field Day:

As in the event last June, we will operate 3 primary stations under the callsign N4FL, class/category 3-O.

THE MENU FOR THE PICNIC WILL BE HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS BAKED BEANS, POTATO SALAD AND CHILI

The contest begins at 11 AM Saturday and ends at 4:59 PM Sunday, reflecting one of several new rules.

To get on the air at 11:00 AM, we will begin setup promptly at 8 AM Saturday, and we encourage everyone who is physically able to assist in this effort.

We will operate the SSB station according to a signup sheet which will be placed beside the rig with instructions. This will ensure that anyone will have an opportunity to get on the air. Those proficient in CW or digital operation are encouraged to assist Dan Vasilca (AI4WW) or Ricky Eaton (KD4HGR).

We intend to operate on the 80 m thru 70 cm bands and will also again attempt to make LEO satellite contacts.

Free Flea:

Kenny Hollenbeck (KE4NC) will sponsor this Ham Helpers activity. Recent and vintage gear will be displayed for viewing and/or acquisition. Bring your old or unwanted equipment with you and put it on the table! This will free up space in YOUR shack and make someone else’s day.

There will be food available. Check back for the menu. Register below (Food provided for a modest donation). You are invited to stay with us overnight and help keep us on the air. You will need your own sleeping equipment (cot, sleeping bag, air mattress, camper, etc.)

The park is located at 401 S. Powerline Rd, Deerfield Beach. There is a $3.00 per vehicle entrance fee. We will be at the Quiet Waters BALD EAGLE Pavilion.

Please do come and participate.